This ancient herb has been used for thousands of years to treat conditil anti-inflammatory (NSAID) compounds ibuprofen and aspirin. Boswellia appears to be safer because NSAIDs work by inhibiting the (COX-2) enzymes. Unfortunately, medications that inhibit COX-2 often inhibit COX-1, which is needed to maintain a healthy stomach lining.  Boswellia differs from the NSAIDs in its mode of action. It blocks the lethal pro-inflammatory enzyme 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX) and has no obvious detrimental side effects like the NSAIDs.